Contributed photo — Mark Hodson, South Whidbey football head coach, met with about 30 parents this past Wednesday night at Mukilteo Coffee Roasters to discuss a wide variety of topics, from concussion protocol to program traditions.

Football coach holds meeting with parents of athletes

South Whidbey football coach Mark Hodson and most of his coaching staff met with about 30 parents this past Wednesday night at Mukilteo Coffee Roasters to discuss topics such as safety on the gridiron, concussions and program goals.

Hodson, who coached the Falcons from 2001-2013 and was rehired in February, said the meeting was drawn to establish communication between the coaching staff and the community, as well as answer lingering questions that have previously gone unanswered. Hodson replaced Michael Coe, who resigned in November for several reasons stemming from his commute from the Lynnwood area. There was also a group of parents who appeared dissatisfied by Coe’s performance and lobbied for his termination or resignation.

Coe replaced Chris Tormey in 2015, who was a former University of Washington assistant coach who led the Falcons for one season in 2014.

Hodson said some of the Falcons’ old traditions, such as Thursday night dinners and the team motto of “Ohana,” the Hawaiian word for family, have faded away over the past three years. He’s hoping to reestablish these traditions while also revitalizing their meaning and purpose.

“Instead of taking the next 15 years to establish that, let’s take the next two months to do that,” Hodson said.